ACU social club to donate $75,000 for new intramural field lights; Frat gift to be largest social club donation in ACU history

For immediate release
Oct. 23, 2003

Frater Sodalis, a men's social club at Abilene Christian University, will dedicate a new intramural field during Homecoming weekend and will announce plans to provide $75,000 worth of lighting and other improvements for the field.

The field, located on the property of Taylor Elementary School, is under a co-use agreement between ACU and AISD. With $72,000 committed toward the $75,000 total – $54,000 of which is already in the bank – Frater Sodalis will dedicate the field Saturday morning at 8:15 a.m., in honor of their senior sponsor, Larry Sanders. The field will be named the Larry C. "Satch" Sanders Intramural Field.

Sanders has been a Frater Sodalis sponsor for the past 25 years and has played for the Frater Sodalis intramural football team at ACU for 30 years. In addition, this year marks the 60th anniversary of the social club's inception.

"As the senior sponsor, Larry is deeply loved, respected and appreciated," said Tim Yandell, Frater Sodalis sponsor. "Though it has not always been easy to function in this role, 'Satch' has risen to the occasion with a great love for the guys and a deep commitment to all that is Frats. He has counseled, laughed, cried with and been a true friend to everyone."

The $75,000 represents the largest-ever gift to ACU from a social club, more than twice the amount of any previous social club gift, said David Connor, development officer at ACU. The money will be used to provide a lighting system and other amenities on the new intramural field.

"This project was chosen as an appropriate way to honor 'Satch' because club intramural sports play such a vital role at ACU with participation from literally thousands of students," Yandell said. "The bonds and friendships created through friendly competition are extremely important to the students."

The money for the improvements to the field will be funded entirely by the club’s members and alumni, Yandell said. No school district monies or ACU budget monies are being spent on this project.